Biography
After winning numerous gold medals while an adolescent national champion, Li made an auspicious film debut with the hit martial arts action flick, "The Shaolin Temple" (1982). Though continued success followed after two sequels, Li had a major breakthrough with "Once Upon a Time in China" (1990), a martial arts epic that gave Li what many considered to be the role of a lifetime - one he went back to several times over the course of his career. …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
2010 | Co-starred with Sylvester Stallone in "The Expendables," an 80s-style action adventure about a group of mercenaries who attempt to overthrow a South American dictator; film featured a Who's Who of action stars including Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger |
2008 | Cast as the lead villain in the fantasy action film "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" |
2008 | First onscreen collaboration with fellow Chinese actor Jackie Chan, "The Forbidden Kingdom" |
2007 | Played an assassin in "War" opposite Jason Statham |
2006 | Returned to roots of kung fu in "Fearless" (final martial arts film) |
2005 | Played an orphan, raised by a crime boss (Bob Hoskins) to function like an attack hound in Luc Besson's "Unleased" |
2004 | Teamed with Maggie Cheung in "Hero" (lensed 2001), directed by Zhang Yimou |
2003 | Reunited with "Romeo Must Die" co-star DMX and director Andrzej Bartkowiak for "Cradle 2 the Grave" |
2001 | With Mel Gibson, executive produced the TBS movie "Invincible" |
2001 | Cast as a man chasing various incarnations of himself across several dimensions in the sci-fi martial arts thriller "The One" |
2001 | Had leading role in and co-produced "Kiss of the Dragon"; co-produced and co-written by Luc Besson |
2000 | Breakthrough role in "Romeo Must Die" |
1998 | Cast in a villainous role in "Lethal Weapon 4" |
1994 | Producing debut with "Bodyguard From Beijing"; also starred |
1991 | Breakthrough role of Wong Fei-hung in "Once Upon a Time in China" directed by Tsui Hark |
1990 | Moved to Hong Kong; signed to a contract by Golden Harvest |
1989 | First feature filmed in the USA, "The Master" directed by Tsui Hark; film not widely released until 1992 |
1988 | Obtained two-year exit visa from China; settled in San Francisco; married and divorced |
1986 | Directorial debut, "Born to Defend"; film was a box-office failure |
1982 | Feature film debut in "Shaolin Temple"; also starred in two sequels in 1984 and 1986 |
1974 | Represented China in wu shu demonstrations throughout the world; also won gold medals in 1975, 1977, 1978 and 1979 |
1974 | Made first trip to the USA to perform in a wu shu troupe at the White House for President Richard Nixon |
1974 | Won first gold medal as champion of the youth national athletic competition |
1971 | Began to study wu shu, a form of martial arts, at age eight |
Awards
2003 | MTV Movie Award for Best Fight in Cradle 2 the Grave |
2002 | MTV Movie Award for Best Fight in The One |
2001 | MTV Movie Award for Best Fight in Romeo Must Die |
1999 | MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in Lethal Weapon 4 |